Josepha, or anybody else that has a treeless saddle, please help!
I need a saddle for Brandy, and I am pretty sure I am going to have to get a treeless. At a stand still/walk she fits beautifully in a semi-QH bar. At a trot she rounds her back and fits beautifully in a full-QH bar. Same basic problem with english saddles. I need something that can accomidate her WIDE range of back movements. She also tends to be more convex in movement, which is just the opposite of how pretty much all treed saddles are made. She moves uncomfortably until she just gives in and goes hollow in a treed saddle, and bareback she will raise her back and move so perfectly, a saddle totally ruins her movement! Treeless saddles allow for this collected-back movement, right?
I really like the Barefoot saddles. I'm looking at the Tahoe or London. The London looks bulky to me. And the Tahoe I have heard is especially built up in the front for horses with big shoulder movement, which Brandy has. So I am leaning toward it.
Josepha, don't you sell these saddles? What do you think of them? Is there something else you would recommend? Is the London as bulky as it looks? What do you think of the Tahoe? Which helps you stay in good position better?
I want one of the newer versions, since they have the panels to help improve spine clearance. I absolutely love the knee rolls on my english saddle, which is mainly why I prefer the Tahoe and London to the Cheyenne.
I am a size 6-8 jean. 30" waist. I think this is a size 1? But I don't want to be squished in with no room to move. But I don't want to be swimming in extra saddle either, so I don't know what size I want. Currently I prefer a bigger seat, because in a bigger seat I can get my legs under me, in a smaller seat I am forced into a chair-seat (which is very painful to my back if nothing else). But I have heard this is not a problem with these saddles. So if I am not having to squirm to keep my legs under me, I would prefer a smaller seat. What do you think? Does that make sense?
Also, I will one day need a saddle for Cody as well. If I buy a treeless, will it fit both horses? Cody is a bit broader and shorter in the back, otherwise they are quite a bit a like. But I might also want to use it on other horses so... Does the saddle conform to one horse, and then only fit that horse, or does it "spring back" and fit multiple horses?
What's the best pad to put under them? I know there are Skito, Granduer, etc etc. Which do you like the best? Can you only use the girths sold by the Barefoot dealers, or can you use any english girth?
Any other information will be much appreciated.